Validation of a Simulated Laparoscopic Skills Training Program by Surgical Residents

ABSTRACT Introduction Training with simulators for video-surgery has been proposed as teaching tools, allowing formative evaluation of students under more controlled and safe conditions. Objective To validate structured program of endosuture training for surgical residents, through two structured scales of acquisition of laparoscopic skills and participant’s perception. Methods This was a quantitative longitudinal experimental study involving 12 residents of surgery from four different hospitals. The training consisted of making endorsements with video simulators in seven sessions over a period of seven months. The evaluation of the progression of the technical competence of the students was carried out by three evaluators, using the Objective Structured Assessmen of Technical Skills (Osats) and the Progression of Proficiency Scale (EPP) in Endorsements. Residents used a Likert scale to evaluate the training program. Anova and chi square tests were performed to compare variables. Correlations and associations between two numerical variables were verified through simple and multiple linear regression, when the determinants were included in addition to the number of training sessions. The Average Ranking was calculated for Likert scale analysis. Comparisons with p value ≤ 0.05 were considered significant.This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the institution. Results There was a significant gain in the acquisition of technical competence by the residents during the course, perceived through the two evaluation instruments used (Osats and EPP). As regards the performance of the residents observed by the evaluators through the Osats, there was a statistically significant improvement in the score in relation to the items: Respect to the tissue (p = 0.006), Time and movement (p = 0.001), Knowledge and handling of instruments p = 0.002), Circulation flow (p = 0.001), Knowledge of the specific procedure (p = 0.001), by the chi-square test. In relation to the total number of points by EPP and the mean score in the tests by the modified Osats, the total and the mean score in the tests were significant (